Mr. Hall in Italy

Finally, I’ve arrived in Reggio Emilia, Italy! My Fitbit tells me that I’ve walked over 8 miles today, which explains why my feet look like two loaves of french bread. Unlike the more popular travel destinations in Italy, finding someone who speaks English is a challenge. I find myself constantly using my Google translate phone app and thrusting  it in some poor merchants face. This afternoon I go to orientation and a tour of the town, weather permitting. BTW, watching Hell’s Kitchen dubbed in Italian is a perfect pairing!

Reggio Emilia is a typical Italian town midway between Bologna and Milan. The city is located in the Po River Valley along the Via Emilia (an ancient Roman road) and dates back to the second century B.C. It has an old city center with beautiful architecture and churches that were built in the 15th and 16th centuries.  Reggio is known for several reasons. It’s where the Italian Flag was first flown, so it’s called the city of the Tricolor. Reggio Emilia is also the source for the famous Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, which is not the same as Parmesan cheese in America. Reggio is also known for it’s non-profit educational center called Reggio Children. Soon after WWII, the community started an educational method that has been adopted in America as well as many other countries. The center has a library, museum and various classrooms (Ateliers) that draw an international group of educators each year.